FORMED IN 2015 by a team with over 25 years experience inhealth, wellness, nutraceuticals and manufacturing.

LOCATED IN COLORADO, BBB Labs. entered into the Cannabinoid space with a vision and a passion for innovative research and development, the creation of advanced solutions for health and wellness, and setting the standards for quality and compliance in this emerging and important industry.

About BBB Labs

Established in 2015, Boulder Botanicals and Biosciences, LLC has a strong foundation built on 25 years of combined experience in nutraceuticals, research & development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales.

720-504-3001
1150 Catamount Dr
Golden, Co 80403

Private Label Customized to Client Specifications

Current clients include dietary supplement, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical companies

Custom Formulating Capabilities

Research and Development for custom formulations

Manufacturing Facility

Overseen by Executive VP with 20 years of experience in GMP and quality control

Call Center: Colorado Call Center

Current BBB Labs News

CBD company leases Golden building for HQ & operations

Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Labs leased the former GE Healthcare/Unisyn building in Golden.

A Boulder cannabinoid company leased a former GE Healthcare building in Golden for its headquarters and operations.

Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Labs leased the 26,180-square-foot facility at 1150 Catamount Drive with an option to buy the building. The property will serve as headquarters for several other sites throughout Colorado, including a 70-acre hemp farm in Pueblo, as well as other states.

Unisyn Medical Technologies, a diagnostics imaging products and services company, had its headquarters in the building and was acquired by GE Healthcare in 2013. Boulder Botanical will be able to use much of the infrastructure GE/Unisyn had in place, such as vaccum-sealed rooms, clean rooms, commercial kitchen setups and safety features to produce netraceutical-grade CBD products in compliance with certified standards used in the neutracutical industry, according to Maruchy Lachance, chief operating officer. The building was built with Good Manufacturing Practice and high safety standards in mind, so it is turnkey for Boulder Botanical’s needs, she said.

“Boulder Botanical will develop our white-label products and other contract-manufactured goods in this facility. We will be able to produce several different delivery platforms, including capsules, tinctures, topicals and more,” Lachance said.

In addition to housing Boulder Botanical & Bioscience’s headquarters, the building will accommodate research and development, sales, customer service, and shipping and receiving.

“When the former occupants left the facility, it also meant the loss of about 145 jobs,” said Lachance. “Boulder Botanical will staff up in phases, with the facility opening for production in fall. We’ve already rehired about a half a dozen former GE employees, and we look forward to adding more Coloradans to our team.”

The building’s owner is 1150 Catamount LLC, managed by Ricardo Bottome of Boulder. Tom Hill and Eric Rutherford of WK Real Estate in Boulder handled both sides of the lease transaction.

BOULDER, Colorado—Nov. 29, 2018—

Robert Di Marco, CEO & Chairman of pioneering cannabinoid company Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory, has issued the following statement in regard to a health advisory posted Nov. 28 by Colorado agencies about pesticides found in products made by a state-licensed marijuana business:

“Colorado regulatory agencies issued a recall on products made by Crossroads Wellness LLC,
doing business as Boulder Botanics, due to the presence of potentially harmful pesticides in
marijuana cultivated by the company.

“To clarify: Boulder Botanics is in no way affiliated with Boulder Botanical & Bioscience
Laboratory. Our operations only include organically grown hemp products, and are in no way
similar or related to Boulder Botanics or their medical marijuana offerings. We commend
Colorado state agencies and officials for taking swift action to uphold health standards and
keep Coloradans safe.”

About Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory

Established in 2015, Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory, LLC specializes in Research and
Development (R&D) of hemp-derived products and large-scale contract manufacturing of
private label cannabidiol-based products for clients including dietary supplement, nutraceutical
and pharmaceutical companies. With a foundation built on over a quarter century of combined
experience in nutraceuticals, R&D, manufacturing, marketing and sales, Boulder Botanical &
Bioscience Laboratory offers vertically integrated seed-to-shelf offerings in the cannabidiol
(CBD) space with a vision and passion for innovating and creating advanced solutions for health
and wellness, and setting the standards for quality and compliance in this emerging industry.
For more information, visit our site at www.bbblabs.com .

Pioneering cannabinoid company Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory (BBB Labs) is pushing forward in its mission to bring good manufacturing practices and standards to the national hemp products sector by appointing David Gumner as Chief Marketing Officer, a new executive position for the company.

As CMO for Colorado-based BBB Labs, Mr. Gumner is responsible for building foundational marketing capabilities throughout the company and its growing array of hemp-derived products for the health-and-wellness sector. As a specialist in marketing consumer packaged goods (CPG), he brings more than 30 years of experience creating, building, and re-staging powerful, iconic brands for companies and products in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

“David’s proven ability to build profitable, nationally recognized brands through research and data-driven analysis is exactly the skill set we need to position Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory for our next level of growth,” said Robert Di Marco, CEO and Chairman of BBB Labs. “With the market for CBD products expanding exponentially, Mr. Gumner is uniquely qualified to establish our brands with wellness-minded consumers across America and beyond.”

Mr. Gumner specializes in strategic marketing and positioning for brands transitioning from niche markets to the mainstream consumer marketplace.

“Considering the federally approved push to boost hemp production in America, I relish this opportunity to join a stand-up company such as BBB Labs, which has set the standard for domestic hemp product manufacturing,” Mr. Gumner said. “The fact BBB Labs has staked its reputation to good manufacturing practices for its hemp-based products is huge. It’s time for the hemp industry to leave behind its ‘Wild West’ beginnings and join the mainstream.”

Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Labs, a pioneering cannabinoid company, has appointed Vic Nastasia to executive vice president of sales.

Nastasia will oversee the entire sales operation at Boulder, establishing sales targets to meet the company objectives, and will be responsible for creating strategies for the company’s wide range of ingredients, products and services. He is also tasked with developing strategic sales plans based on company goals that will promote sales growth and customer satisfaction.

Nastasia is no stranger to sales operations at beverage companies. He served three decades as senior vice president of sales and marketing at National Beverage and Hansen Beverage, and he served in senior leadership roles at PepsiCo.

During his tenure in each role, Nastasia led groups from 40 to 1,000 employees in sales, marketing and operations. He grew profits of nearly 30 percent in each company through a multi-channel strategy using direct store delivery partnerships, national convenience wholesalers, national accounts, and a hybrid broker direct selling network for targeted key accts.

Nastasia’s extensive background in the beverage industry includes work for Monster Energy, National Beverage Company, PepsiCo/Frito Lay and Gallo wine.

“Vic’s decades of high-level experience at the forefront of the beverage industry will serve us well,” says Maruchy Lachance, Boulder’s COO. “Adding a team member with highly successful sales and national account leadership experience, who’s developed and led high performance teams, is exactly what we need as we accelerate growth and take our business model to the next level.”

As Director of Confectionary Sales, Mr. Hennessy oversees the confectionary sales team, creates strategy, and assists in the marketing and packaging of the current and prospective confectionary products. He builds awareness of the product lines Boulder Botanical is formulating and manufacturing, such as gummies, chocolate and other confectionery goods.

Mr. Hennessy brings in-depth experience from his past roles at Storck USA, Godiva Chocolate, Anheuser-Busch, Thompson Chocolate and Lucky Country Licorice, where he was able to expand distribution into new markets and place products with national vendors including CVS, Walgreens, Target and Walmart.

“Andrew is a seasoned executive, honing his skills working in the regulated alcohol industry, and his experience managing specialty distributor networks will serve him well in the burgeoning CBD industry,” said Robert Di Marco, CEO and Chairman of Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Labs. “By identifying and developing new market opportunities, growing existing customer bases and building strategic relationships, Andrew will help Boulder Botanical drive growth.”

Boulder Botanical also added Christian Santi to the team as Director of Ingredient Sales. Mr. Santi oversees the sales team dedicated to the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) oil and a variety of isolated CBD products. He was brought on to assist in creating strategies and methodologies that will provide Boulder Botanical clients with consistent, professional results every time.

“With experience in the vitamin, nutritional supplement and nutraceuticals space, Christian brings proven ability to increase sales as well as oversee and evaluate market research,” said Maruchy Lachance, COO of Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Labs. “We’re confident Christian will marshal Boulder Botanical’s resources for maximum productivity as we take our business to the next level. “

BBB Labs Press

All media related inquiries can be addressed to:

Chloe Steerman
Publicist
484-751-8387
chloe@mygrasslands.com

Contact

WHAT'S GOING ON AT BBB LABS?

What is a Cannabinoid?

- Jul 27, 2018 -

By Boulder Botanical and Bioscience Laboratory Staff
If you’ve been reading much about cannabis, you may have heard the term cannabinoid and wondered what it entails.
Plants of the species Cannabis sativa L.—whether they are classified as hemp or marijuana—are made up of hundreds of compounds, including phytocannabinoids (“phyto” means “plant”). Two of the most famous cannabinoids are delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), but there are numerous others.
Regarding the difference between marijuana and hemp, it comes down to THC; the federal government set a limit of 0.3 percent THC or less to qualify as hemp.
Cannabinoids are found in the sticky trichomes produced by glands of the cannabis plant. Cannabis strains have differing amounts of various cannabinoids. Production is influenced by the sex and maturity of the plant, exposure to daylight and temperature.
Cannabinoids interact with and are processed by the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), an interconnected set of receptors and neurotransmitters located throughout the body. Cannabinoids either activate or inhibit these receptors. Two of the most studied receptors are called cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB-1) and 2 (CB-2). CB-1 receptors are found in brain neurons, plus the heart, lungs and reproductive organs; CB-2 receptors are found in immune cells.
The body produces some cannabinoids on its own, called endogenous cannabinoids (a.k.a. endocannabinoids), but it also processes externally introduced phytocannabinoids, whether ingested by smoking, vaporizing or consuming edibles / liquids infused with cannabis. Endocannabinoids have been detected in breast milk; mothers also pass phytocannabinoids to their baby via breast milk, and researchers are still determining how exposure to phytocannabinoids affects infants’ long-term development.
When cannabinoids work with the endocannabinoid system, amazing things can happen. Researchers so far have found health benefits for multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and many more medical conditions and symptoms. The National Cancer Institute reports that cannabinoids can treat the symptoms and effects of cancer therapy, and that cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in laboratory tests.
Cannabis and hemp are the only plants that have been confirmed to contain cannabinoids, but other plants including kale, echinacea and liverwort contain compounds that interact with the CB-2 receptor, or stimulate endocannabinoid production within the human body. Scientists are also working to produce CBD from hops and yeast.
CBD and THC were first identified in the 1960s, and research over the past 50 years has shown that non-psychoactive CBD has anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties. THC has psychoactive effects, of course, and also has health benefits.
More clinical studies are underway to help us understand the benefits of each cannabinoid, and how they interact together and with other compounds. Since 2015, the National Institute of Health alone has spent over $600 million on research into cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system.
There’s so much more to discover, and we look forward to helping expand the knowledge base through our own research at Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Labs.

What is CBD? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cannabidiol

- Jul 30, 2018 -

The cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) has been receiving plenty of attention in the media and the medical community these days—and for good reason.
So what is CBD, and what exactly does it do? Let’s start with the basics.
What Is CBD?
CBD is one of hundreds of cannabinoid compounds found in the cannabis plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another well-known cannabinoid, CBD is non-psychoactive— meaning it doesn’t produce intoxicating, euphoric effects. It does, however, have a number of potential therapeutic uses.
While CBD is present to a degree in all cannabis varieties, certain so-called CBD strains such as Charlotte’s Web, Canna-Tsu and Harlequin have been bred to have very high levels of the cannabinoid. CBD is often extracted from the whole plant to produce a concentrated oil, which can be orally ingested or vaporized. CBD can also be utilized via tinctures, topical products or by simply smoking or vaporizing high-CBD cannabis flower. When consumed, CBD produces various effects by acting on the body’s cannabinoid receptors that make up the endocannabinoid system that is in part responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the body.
CBD is found in both hemp and marijuana, although industrial hemp-derived CBD is regulated differently than marijuana-extracted CBD. The non-partisan analysis group ProCon.org reports that as of May 2018, at least 17 states have passed laws specifically allowing for the medical use of CBD extract, typically in oil form. However, hemp-derived CBD is widely available in most American states, even those without any medical cannabis laws on the books.
Naturally occurring CBD is considered safe, generally well tolerated and doesn’t cause physical dependence (i.e. isn’t addictive), according to findings in a 2017 World Health Organization report.
What Conditions Does CBD Treat?
Anecdotal evidence and preliminary research suggests CBD is effective for reducing pain, inflammation, nausea and anxiety in many individuals. And early evidence indicates promising potential for the cannabinoid to be used in the treatment of numerous other medical conditions, including mood disorders, substance abuse and cancer, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
But CBD is perhaps best known for its demonstrated ability to reduce seizures in certain patients with intractable and drug-resistant forms of epilepsy.
Following a series of successful clinical CBD trials in patients with severe pediatric seizure disorders, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the plant-derived CBD medication Epidiolex for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in June 2018. This historic decision marked the first time a top-level federal agency officially recognized CBD’s medical value, and opened the doors to CBD being approved for treating additional medical conditions.
This is all the tip of the iceberg, however. Scientists have only just begun tapping into the potential applications for CBD. As the compound’s therapeutic properties gain wider recognition and barriers to research are eased, many more exciting advancements in CBD medicine lay ahead.

What’s in Your CBD? Three Questions to Ask as You Choose Your Cannabidiol Product

- Sep 06, 2018 -

By Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory Staff
They’re everywhere: Hemp-derived CBD products are on shelves in supermarkets, drug stores, smoke shops, gas stations, dispensaries and the online marketplace. But how can consumers know whether these products are the real deal?
In other words, is the CBD oil you’re buying on Amazon going to have the positive effects you’d expect them to have?
So far there is no regulation of CBD products made from hemp, so it’s important to do your homework. Here are three questions to ask before buying a CBD product:
How was this hemp grown, and how can I be sure this CBD oil doesn’t contain pesticide residues?
Hemp is known for absorbing whatever nutrients and toxins are in the soil it’s grown in. In fact, hemp has been used to clean up toxic soil, a process known as phytoremediation. So if you are going to consume a plant extract product such as CBD oil, where the plant’s compounds are concentrated, you want to make sure that the plant wasn’t grown in soil that contained toxins, chemicals or metals. And you want to make sure that the cultivator didn’t use active-ingredient chemical pesticides, because those can end up in a plant extract product at concentrated levels.
So it’s important to check whether the producer of the CBD oil follows organic growing practices. This means they grow without using synthetic chemical insecticides, herbicides or fertilizers. If the product is made from hemp, the growers can be certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Ideally, companies that are producing CBD oil are growing their own crops, so they can verify the growing practices used in the plant material they are starting with. Some companies import their hemp material from outside the United States, including sources from China and Europe. These countries do not have the same growing standards as those certified USDA organic.
If there is little information to be found about the company’s hemp source, that should be a red flag.
What were the extraction processes involved in manufacturing the CBD oil, and can you be sure it doesn’t contain residual chemicals or contaminants?
Believe it or not, one of the most common ways to extract CBD oil from hemp and higher-THC cannabis is to use butane, propane or other hydrocarbon solvents. Such solvents are known to be toxic, and even after they’ve been separated at the end of the extraction process, traces can remain in the final product.
A more natural approach for extraction is to soak plant material in ethanol, itself a fermented plant product. When heated, the ethanol evaporates, so the resulting extract doesn’t contain any solvents.
Does the product go through verifiable testing to document its purity and potency? Can you be sure what’s in the bottle matches what the label claims?
It’s vital to know if product labeling is accurate. A recent study of CBD products in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that of 84 products sold online, less than one-third (31 percent) were accurately labeled for CBD content. Between 2015-17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent several warning letters to businesses whose CBD products contained as low as 1 percent of the potency listed on the label.
Other products don’t even explain what dosage of which cannabinoid consumers are getting.
Even worse, in late 2017 and early 2018, 52 people in Utah ended up at the hospital due to adverse reactions from taking products that turned out to contain synthetic cannabinoids 4-cyano CUMYL-BUTINACA (4-CCB), but no CBD.
Any reputable company uses a third-party independent lab to test its products consistently, to ensure that the potency and formulation are accurate—not just when creating a product, but whenever new ingredients are added, and periodically going forward.
The product test results should include the concentration of CBD (and THC if applicable), and testing for pesticides, mold or other contaminants.
If this information about test results can’t be found easily, ask yourself why that might be.
Does the product manufacturer follow FDA and GMP standards?
While only one pharmaceutical drug containing plant-derived CBD has been approved by the FDA to date, manufacturers can still ensure that they are following the strict regulations laid out by the FDA. These rules include following written procedures and training, using sterile equipment and surfaces, following general laboratory hygiene and sanitation, proper handling and storage techniques, anti-contamination techniques, quality control and testing. It also means using proper equipment, instruments and quarantined spaces, as well as clearly labeling products with ingredients and identifying numbers for batch and lot production.
Companies that follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) ensure their production process results in consistent products that adhere to specific standards of quality. Like FDA standards, GMP includes quality of materials and equipment, quality of staff training and hygiene of the facility. When a company follows GMP, it creates written operating policies and procedures, along with checklists to make sure these procedures are carried out by all employees.
In the unregulated CBD market, the onus is on companies to self-regulate by holding themselves to a strict standard, and for consumers to perform due diligence.
If you haven’t already guessed, products made by Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory meet all of these standards. Our mission is to create CBD products that are nutraceutical quality, and our team has more than 25 years of experience in the manufacturing of nutraceuticals; our source material is hemp grown domestically, on a Colorado farm we control and own, using organic practices; our manufacturing facility is medical grade; and products are made under GMP standards and thoroughly tested.
Rest assured that CBD products made in our labs are held to strict quality and testing regimens to ensure consistency, safety and efficacy.

The FDA and CBD: The Food and Drug Administration is Coming Around to Cannabidiol

- Sep 06, 2018 -

By Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory Staff
The Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of Epidiolex, an epilepsy drug containing plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD), marks the first official federal recognition that cannabis compound CBD is, in fact, a legitimate therapeutic compound.
Needless to say, it’s a sea change for how the regulatory agency views CBD, and it’s opened the door for further change on the federal level.
Although it is widely known that pure CBD extracted from cannabis is non-psychoactive, non-toxic and demonstrates numerous potential therapeutic properties—as the World Health Organization officially concluded in 2017—the Drug Enforcement Administration has thus far considered all marijuana derivatives to be Schedule I substances, the most restrictive drug category reserved for drugs that have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
CBD is found both in marijuana and in hemp, two different varieties of the genus Cannabis sativa L. Unlike marijuana, hemp doesn’t produce significant levels of THC—the psychoactive compound found in marijuana—and therefore, CBD made from hemp that’s produced domestically under the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) is not a federally controlled substance.
Fortunately for people seeking to benefit from CBD, but who don’t live in states with medical cannabis laws, or who don’t qualify as medical cannabis patients within their state, hemp-derived CBD is not federally regulated like marijuana-derived CBD is. This has created opportunity for makers of hemp extracts.
There is much to be discovered about CBD. Due to the DEA’s decades-long prohibition on marijuana, it has been exceedingly difficult for U.S. researchers to conduct the type of studies needed to prove CBD’s legitimate medical applications and garner FDA approval for CBD-based drugs. But scientists pushing to study the compound’s medical applications had a breakthrough with the FDA’s approval of Epidiolex.
Regarding its decision to approve Epidiolex, the FDA cited evidence of the drug’s effectiveness at reducing seizures in three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials—considered the gold standard for clinical drug trials—involving 516 patients with severe, drug-resistant forms of epilepsy.
“This approval serves as a reminder that advancing sound development programs that properly evaluate active ingredients contained in marijuana can lead to important medical therapies. And, the FDA is committed to this kind of careful scientific research and drug development,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in a written statement.
While the FDA’s review process demands controlled clinical trials, the agency’s first vote of confidence for a plant-derived CBD drug is a big win for the larger hemp-based CBD products market. Indeed, we at Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory have long known the valuable therapeutic applications for CBD products, and it’s heartening to see U.S. regulators coming around to this reality.
Preclinical research indicates CBD may have a wide range of useful therapeutic applications, due to its demonstrated properties that include anti-seizure, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-tumor, anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety, according to a 2015 report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
With the FDA’s approval of Epidiolex, we are likely to see a surge of interest and research into additional applications for CBD beyond epilepsy. And we look forward to seeing the full potential of this powerful compound realized in coming years.

Celebrities and CBD: Why These Stars of Screen and Sport are Using Cannabidiol

- Sep 24, 2018 -

By Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory Staff
Following a celebrity’s example isn’t always the best practice. Ronald Reagan notoriously served as a spokesman for Chesterfield cigarettes, and O.J. Simpson demonstrated how to make a quick getaway in a Hertz rental car.
So what to make of the roster of stars—big screen, small screen and sporting—who swear by cannabidiol (CBD)? Well, for one thing, they’re endorsing a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis, so this isn’t about getting high. And CBD has been credibly tied to all kinds of health improvements, from relieving pain to helping alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to calming anxiety. So it isn’t just another wacky celebrity bandwagon, like jade eggs.
It’s particularly believable when a professional athlete makes a case for a renowned natural painkiller. If you’re frequently being pounded into the turf by 300-pound linemen, like former Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, it’s hard to argue against his first-person testimony on the healing qualities of CBD. Plummer’s fellow Bronco Nate Jackson, another CBD advocate, has estimated that 50 percent of NFL players are using some form of cannabis, to help them deal with a violent game. It beats the opioid troubles that have felled many of their fellow footballers.
For similar reasons, UFC / MMA fighter Nate Diaz showed up bruised and battered at a post-fight press conference, and pulled out a CBD vape pen to ease the pain.
The list of CBDevotees outside of sports is wide-ranging as well.
Whoopi Goldberg has been an outspoken advocate of medical cannabis, and has introduced a line of CBD-infused products, including one that addresses menstrual pain. (But don’t believe the rumors that Queen Victoria used cannabis to deal with cramps; that’s been debunked.)
TV host Montel Williams has used various forms of cannabis and CBD to help him deal with the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and like Goldberg has launched a medical cannabis company.
Actress Olivia Wilde says that a six-month stint on Broadway completely “wrecked” her body. Her answer: a CBD lotion, which she credits with helping her to avoid overusing over-the-counter painkillers.
Singer and actress Olivia Newton-John is coping with back pain after a recurrence of breast cancer. Her husband grows medical cannabis to address her aches.
Of course, where the celebrity stampede goes, there go the hucksters and snake-oil artists as well. This study in the Journal of the American Medical Association noted that many CBD products sold online contain barely a hint of the active ingredient. Know your CBD sources, and check their math on active ingredients, to see if a CBD balm is worthy of those initials.

What’s in Your Hemp CBD? Here’s Why We Bought a Colorado Hemp Farm

- Oct 29, 2018 -

By Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory Staff
Here’s something worth knowing: 100 percent of the hemp used by Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory in its CBD production is grown using organic methods, right here in Colorado.
Our topmost concern is the health of our customers, and we know that starts with the plants we use for hemp oil extraction. We even bought our own hemp farm to make sure we always have full control over the quality of the plant material we use. Achieving the proper quality includes making sure our hemp farming operation takes an organic approach to cultivation and uses the cleanest growing practices, the most updated pest-fighting methods and the most effective harvesting procedures.
Our Helping Hands Farm in Pueblo, Colorado, provides all of the hemp used in our products. And we are currently farming 70 acres, with additional land dedicated to R&D.
All of our products are made from CBD-rich hemp grown without genetic modification or the use of harmful synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilizers. We want our plants to be free of contaminants because we want the hemp oil extract we make to be as beneficial as possible. After all, our customers are trusting us to boost their health and wellness when they put our products in their bodies.
We know how important clean soil is for growing high-quality hemp. That’s because hemp plants soak up not just nutrients but toxins and contaminants from the soil in which they are grown. Hemp has in fact been used as a cleaning crop on contaminated soils; the cleanup of the Chernobyl nuclear site in Ukraine is a prime example. We will always ensure the soil in which we grow our plants doesn’t contain chemicals, heavy metals or other toxins.
Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory is dedicated to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and that applies to our whole supply chain. It’s key that hemp farming is overseen by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Many other companies import their hemp from outside the United States, including countries that generally do not provide good documentation of growing practices or standards for pesticide use.
Meanwhile, we have just harvested our fourth crop on the farm, and we look forward to many more years of healthful harvests to create our healing products.

CBD and Bioavailability: A Deep Dive Into Cannabidiol Delivery Methods

- Oct 30, 2018 -

By Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory Staff
You may have heard the term “bioavailability” when it comes to CBD products, but what does it mean? And why is it so integral to everything we do at Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory?
Let’s start at the beginning.
Cannabis plants are made up of hundreds of different chemical compounds, called cannabinoids and terpenes. Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are two well-known cannabinoids. While THC and CBD have many similar medical benefits, a 2017 World Health Organization report found CBD to be safe, non-addictive and devoid of the psychoactive / euphoric effects found in THC.
Clinical trials have shown CBD can be used to reduce seizures; other research and anecdotal reports suggest CBD has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties and can be helpful in providing relief for menstrual pain, migraines and anxiety, among many other ailments.
Because of this, CBD has seen a spike in popularity in recent years from consumers looking to take advantage of its myriad of potential uses, according to cannabis sales-tracking firm BDS Analytics, which noted massive growth in multiple CBD product categories.
For cannabinoid consumption, most people generally think of smoking and edibles, but interest has grown in other delivery methods. CBD, in particular, can be consumed via extract oils contained in capsules, topicals, tinctures and more.
Tinctures are made with cannabinoids suspended in alcohol or food-grade oil and come in glass bottles with droppers, for ingesting orally or for infusing into food or drink. Topicals are applied externally, in the forms of lotions, creams and salves that get absorbed into the skin for a localized effect, and have become a favorite of massage therapists and those looking to target a specific source of pain in the body. And of course capsules are an age-old oral delivery method.
So, to return to the question at hand—what is bioavailability?—it’s the glue that ties these things together. Whenever something is ingested, through food or drink or, in this case, hemp-derived CBD, bioavailability refers to the ease in which the nutrient gets absorbed into the body. That is where the importance of the delivery method comes into the equation.
Capsules such as Boulder Botanicals’ hemp-derived Cannabinoid Complex and tinctures are ingested orally and enter the bloodstream, thus giving them a higher bioavailability than topicals that are applied to the skin. Those looking for the absolute highest CBD bioavailability could smoke or vaporize, as they would with THC, but its medical applications do not always allow for this, dosage is inconsistent and overconsumption can become a concern, particularly for products that contain levels of THC beyond hemp, which has 0.3 percent THC or less.
It is here that the use and application of CBD and other cannabinoids becomes a personal choice, dependent on the consumer’s preferences and intent.
As more research confirms the real and practical benefits of hemp-derived CBD products, and as its availability increases from health-food stores to mainstream retailers, its versatility and popularity will only continue to grow. Exciting developments await.

CBD Sources: A Dive Into Harmless Hemp’s Complicated History

- Oct 30, 2018 -

By Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory
Unlike its raffish, higher-THC cousin marijuana, hemp has a decidedly workmanlike reputation.
For centuries, plants in the species Cannabis sativa L. ranked among the most useful fiber sources in the world, to the extent that early European arrivals in America were required to grow it. In 1632, Virginia’s new colonial assembly decreed: “Every planter as soone as he may, provide seede of flaxe and hempe and sowe the same.” It’s no wonder they were so eager for that first crop: Hemp was used to produce thread, rope, cloth, paper—and it was a food source, as well.
That do-it-all reputation for hemp began to unravel at the beginning of the last century, however, when cannabis was brought north by immigrants from Mexico, where it had long been used medicinally and sometimes recreationally, which was a new concept in America. Authorities in the U.S. were looking for ways to crack down on the new arrivals, so they outlawed the intoxicating “marihuana,” as it was called. But here was the confusing part: Some of these distinctive plants were powerfully intoxicating when smoked. Others merely produced that useful fiber. What was the difference, and should they both be banned?
It wasn’t until the key intoxicating component in cannabis sativa—tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—was identified in the early 1960s by Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam, that plant scientists began sorting out the mess. They began developing cannabis cultivars with little or trace amounts of THC, and those sober versions were labeled hemp—as opposed to intoxicating marijuana, as it was now widely called in America. And yet, that distinction was so little understood that innocent hemp was swept into the era’s drug-war dragnet as well. In 1970, all forms of cannabis were placed in the most restrictive category of the Controlled Substance Act.
It wasn’t until post-2010 that things really turned around for hemp, thanks to the growth of state medical marijuana programs.
In 2013, CNN turned a spotlight on Colorado and a young girl named Charlotte Figi, who suffered from a severe form of epilepsy. Her parents had pursued a medical marijuana treatment and discovered that a strain of low-THC hemp containing high amounts of cannabidiol (CBD) helped control her seizures without any intoxicating effect.
Hardworking hemp was back in business, now recruited into the medical field as a valuable source of CBD, which has been demonstrated to have many healthful properties. And in 2014 with the passage of the U.S. Agricultural Act (Farm Bill), hemp farming officially returned to the U.S.
Hemp oils have been associated with an astonishing array of body benefits.
As a food source, its seeds contain an optimal blend of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and other healthy fats, plus plenty of fiber and protein.
Full-spectrum hemp oil rich in CBD is showing tremendous promise for health too.
A 2015 report on CBD by the National Institute on Drug Abuse noted pre-clinical research (including both cell culture and animal models) has shown CBD to be “therapeutically useful, including anti-seizure, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-tumor, anti-psychotic, and anti-anxiety properties.”
The best news of all: Thanks to federal law allowing domestic hemp production, hemp oil is now widely available. Check local laws, and make sure you buy a product with lab-verified amounts of CBD.

THC vs. CBD: What's the Difference?

- Nov 26, 2018 -

By Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory
If you've recently perused your local dispensary, you may have noticed a number of products listing their ratios of THC to CBD. Sometimes it’s an equal 1:1 ratio, while others are predominately CBD or THC.
This emerging focus on the key chemical compounds found in hemp and marijuana is a trend worth exploring.
While the cannabis plant contains dozens of therapeutic and aromatic chemical compounds—called cannabinoids and terpenes—the primary ones are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The well-known difference between these two cannabinoids is that THC gets you high, while CBD does not. But that doesn't necessarily mean non-intoxicating CBD will have no impact on your mental state.
In general, it's believed that CBD helps even out the psychoactive effects of THC—this can be particularly helpful if the THC is making you feel excessively high, anxious or otherwise uncomfortable.
So what’s the difference between THC and CBD that causes disparate effects? It comes down to the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS consists of a series of receptors and neurotransmitters located throughout the body that help maintain homeostasis for a number of physiological functions. The ECS processes endogenous cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids, that are produced naturally by the body as well as plant-based cannabinoids that are introduced externally, whether it’s consuming a hemp full-spectrum capsule, smoking a joint or any other form of delivery.
There are two types of receptors in the ECS, called CB1 and CB2, that interact with cannabinoids. CB receptors are either activated or suppressed by cannabinoids. Scientists have determined THC mimics the effects of anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), two endocannabinoids that help regulate sleep, appetite, mood and pain, while anandamide, also known as the “bliss molecule” in particular plays an active role in pleasure and motivation.
When you consume THC, it affects CB receptors in various areas of the brain and nervous system. When it activates CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus, for example, you may experience an appetite boost, while THC acting on CB2 receptors in the spinal cord can help with pain and sensitivity. The effects of THC on receptors in the brain’s nucleus accumbens could lead to a euphoric feeling; however, you may also experience anxiety or paranoia depending on how THC interacts with receptors in the amygdala.
While CBD and THC are similar in their chemical makeup, the atoms in the compounds are in a different order and thus are processed differently by the ECS. Because of this, both THC and CBD can offer therapeutic effects when it comes to pain, sleep and other ailments, but CBD won't have any impact on your cognition. That said, studies on animal models have demonstrated that CBD can help lower anxiety and provide a sense of relaxation.
Other differences between CBD and THC: Some research suggests CBD might be better suited to treat pain-related ailments like inflammation or neuropathic pain, while higher doses of THC could be better for spasticity. Unlike CBD, THC also has a biphasic effect, meaning that higher doses paradoxically could have the opposite effect of lower doses: For example, a small dose of THC could help alleviate anxiety, while a large dose could trigger it. In the latter case, having something like a CBD vape pen handy could be useful in offsetting the anxiety-inducing effects of THC.
Often, experts recommend consuming full-spectrum hemp products. The idea is that via the entourage effect, the entirety of the plant's chemical compounds work better when they're working together in synergy.

Benefits of CBD: The Emergence of Research-Backed Information on Cannabidiol

- Nov 29, 2018 -

Benefits of CBD: The Emergence of Research-Backed Information on Cannabidiol
By Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory staff
Given marijuana’s history as a party drug, it is perhaps a little surprising to hear about the many sober uses it is being put to these days. Scarcely a news cycle goes by without another potential health benefit being attributed to the compounds found in marijuana and hemp.
In fact, a nearly 500-page report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine sifted through some 10,000 studies and determined conclusive evidence exists for the beneficial effects of plant cannabinoids.
You could even argue that, if plants in the species Cannabis sativa L. were only good as an intoxicant, they would still be relegated to Grateful Dead reunions. In fact, much of the legalization movement is hitched to health benefits, not the high life.
California was the first state to approve use of marijuana for medical purposes, passing Proposition 215 in 1996. Over the past two decades, many more have followed suit. Currently, 46 states—plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam—have legalized some form of cannabis for dozens of medical conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seizures, chronic pain and complications from cancer treatment.
Follow the therapeutic reasoning behind many of these applications, and you come to three initials that spell out the healing promise of cannabis: CBD. It’s short for cannabidiol, one of roughly 150 organic compounds called cannabinoids and terpenes that are found in the species Cannabis sativa L.
Cannabinoids are chemical keys that unlock receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which regulates systems from head to toe. And not just any systems—they work with the ones regulating metabolism, sleep and stress, among many others. The body produces its own cannabinoids that work with those ECS receptors, and that’s where the utility of CBD comes in: It may augment and enhance the body’s own protective and healing processes, potentially giving us dozens of new ways to pursue self-care and wellness.
Research conducted on animal models and in the lab suggests CBD could play a role in immune system function, controlling complications of diabetes, promoting bone healing and acting as a neuroprotectant, among other potential benefits.
Aside from the intoxicant tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is the only other cannabinoid that thus far has received extensive investigation. And the World Anti-Doping Agency recently removed CBD from its prohibited list, clearing the way for use by athletes from Olympians on down.
A driving factor behind the enthusiasm for hemp-derived CBD: It appears to have many positive influences on the ECS, and it does so without the mental fog associated with marijuana use. And with hemp CBD, it also means it doesn’t have the stigma of marijuana.
Yes, that’s confusing, and it may take years for state and national regulations to sync up. But while we wait for the legislators to agree, you can still try out hemp-derived CBD in capsules, topicals, tinctures and even vape pens.
The online market for CBD products is robust; just make sure it’s a) legal where you live, and b) that you buy a brand with lab-verified CBD content. In the unregulated “Wild West” of CBD, some products have been found to have less CBD than what’s claimed on the label, according to a 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. So, by all means be careful and do your own research into CBD products and the companies that make them before you buy.
But given CBD’s vast potential and the growing body of research that suggests it has many benefits, we may have to consider it a party drug after all: A get-well party, that is.

CBD is the New Shea Butter: What You Need to Know About Cannabidiol Topicals

- Jan 31, 2019 -

By David Gumner, CMO
Cannabidiol (CBD) is emerging as one of the hottest ingredients in the skin-care space—and with good reason: A growing body of scientific research suggests this plant compound may provide relief for a number of inflammation-related conditions.
When applied topically to the skin in the form of infused lotions, balms, salves and oils, CBD could be a soothing option for inflammation-related conditions such as acne and psoriasis, as well as helping keep the skin hydrated and nourished.
And since CBD is non-intoxicating, it can be used safely by people who want to experience the cannabinoid’s therapeutic abilities without the mind-altering effects associated with another well-known cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Here’s a breakdown of where things currently stand with CBD topicals:
How Safe Are CBD Topicals?
CBD topicals from trusted manufacturers are quite safe. CBD is a nontoxic chemical compound derived from hemp and marijuana. According to a November 2017 preliminary report by the World Health Organization, naturally occurring CBD is well tolerated and safe in humans and animals. The WHO continues to investigate CBD’s safety and review research on potential medical applications, and has thus far determined that the cannabinoid does not cause physical dependence and is not associated with abuse potential or negative health effects.
The biggest safety concern associated with CBD topicals is not so much with CBD itself but rather, with the company that manufactured the CBD product. Some manufacturers aren’t transparent about their CBD sourcing and extraction practices, and their products may be tainted with pesticides, heavy metals or other toxins you don’t want anywhere near your skin. It’s a good rule of thumb to purchase CBD topicals from companies that operate transparently and employ Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP), such as Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Laboratory.
How Do CBD Topicals Work?
Cannabis topical products work by interacting with the body’s specialized endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS plays an important role in the regulation of numerous physical functions, including sleep, appetite, pain, inflammation and the immune system. It does this through a network of receptors located throughout the body, including what are known as CB2 receptors found in the skin.
When CBD-infused topical products are applied directly to the skin, they activate the CB2 receptors’ anti-inflammatory mechanism. And, unlike oral consumption of CBD medicinals, topical application allows for localized and directly targeted relief.
Why Use CBD Topicals?
CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects can be helpful for a wide range of inflammation-related diseases and conditions, including joint and muscle aches. Beyond that, CBD topicals could help provide relief from inflammation-related skin conditions such as psoriasis, acne and rosacea, as well as puffiness and swelling. Topicals can also be helpful for people with dry skin and eczema; the natural oils, fatty acids and antioxidants found in full-spectrum hemp oil can help keep the skin looking and feeling hydrated and healthy.

Cannabidiol and Pro Athletes: This Former NFL Player Says CBD Saved His Life

- Feb 07, 2019 -

By Boulder Botanical and Bioscience Laboratory Staff
In the early 2000s, Larry Chester was the human equivalent of a highway crash barrier, putting himself in the path of onrushing linebackers to protect the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins and absorbing hits as he kept lanes clear for their running backs. Is it any wonder he developed chronic pain?
“I was eating opioids, in search of relief, and was not finding it,” the former player told CBS4, a TV station in Miami, in September 2018. He was depressed, a shut-in and lashing out at friends and family who were trying to help him. It wasn’t until he tried cannabidiol (CBD) that he found such help and got his life back.
CBD is a cannabinoid, a potent organic compound found in marijuana and hemp. Unlike its cannabinoid cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD won’t produce a high. But it can lift you up in other ways. CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which works in conjunction with your nervous and endocrine systems to help regulate everything from sleep and pain to anxiety and inflammation. In particular, CBD interacts with brain receptors that impact mood and the perception of pain, preliminary research has shown.
Mr. Chester suffered more abuse to his body in a seven-year NFL career than most of us will experience our entire life. He now uses a CBD salve to help with knee-joint pain and other pain and stress issues, and he firmly believes that it has given him his life back.
“I feel more like me than I have in a long time,” Mr. Chester said in the CBS4 report.
Anecdotal reports featuring former NFL players such as Mr. Chester have led many athletes to experiment with CBD. The hitch: Major sports leagues still include cannabinoids on their banned-substances lists, and players caught in the drug-test dragnet are subject to fines and suspensions. However, that is changing as organizations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency have carved out exceptions for CBD. According to a recent article in Forbes, professional basketball’s Big3 league now allows players to use CBD for pain relief and other issues, and the World Anti-Doping Agency, which drug-tests Olympic athletes, has removed the cannabinoid CBD from its list of prohibited substances.
Given the concussion concerns that have rocked football, the NFL has made some moves to reconsider its blanket ban on all cannabinoids. Redesigned helmets and rule changes are necessary steps forward, and allowing NFL players to utilize a renowned neuroprotectant such as CBD would be another positive step.
That sounds like good news, even if you don’t block linebackers for a living.

CBD Benefits: Research-Backed Information on Cannabidiol and Anxiety

- Feb 14, 2019 -

By Boulder Botanical and Bioscience Laboratory Staff
Much of the research on the health effects of cannabis has been conducted on mice, not men. Or women. Therein lies an apparent comparison problem: Humans are big, bold creatures, while mice are tiny, timid ones. But when it comes to researching the ways cannabis can combat anxiety, that human-mouse connection seems promising—what creature, after all, is more anxious than a mouse.
To test potential remedies for nervousness, researchers often administer the “simulation public-speaking test.” Just thinking about it, you may find your heart racing.
Glossophobia—the fear of making a fool of oneself in front of a crowd—is among our greatest fears. But we can’t very well get a mouse to address a crowd, which is why the effects of cannabidiol, or CBD, on anxiety have been tested in humans for a study whose findings were published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology in 2011.
(Spoiler alert: The study is titled Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naïve Social Phobia Patients.)
An estimated 19 percent of American adults suffered from an anxiety disorder in the past year, and nearly a third of them will experience grinding, or even debilitating worries during their life. This large population of uneasy people represents a giant—and desperate—market for the pharmaceutical industry. In recent decades, drug manufacturers have unleashed an array of prescription products to calm our worries: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) including Zoloft and Prozac, as well as sedatives and tranquilizers such as Xanax and Valium. Drugs in these classifications come with their own disturbing list of warnings and side effects, and can be notoriously difficult to quit. All of this is enough to give you a whole-new round of worries to go along with the ones that inspired you to seek therapy in the first place.
But what if Big Pharma’s offerings aren’t the only, or even the best, options? Consider the plant compounds called cannabinoids—CBD in particular.
The aforementioned study’s findings are unequivocal: “Pretreatment with CBD significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance, and significantly decreased alert in their anticipatory speech,” the authors write.
There have been other striking research findings. The National Institute on Drug Abuse noted in a 2015 report: “CBD has shown therapeutic efficacy in a range of animal models of anxiety and stress.”
Yes, the studies cited by NIDA were conducted on anxious rodents. Nevertheless, across the board, studies have shown benefits for many anxiety-driven disorders, including:
Panic disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Social phobia
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Generalized anxiety disorder
Mild to moderate depression
Given the state of cannabis research these days—specifically, it’s still severely limited by the outdated federal designation of cannabis as a Schedule I drug, in the same category as heroin and cocaine—we’re left to sift through preliminary studies and experiment on ourselves.
You might try a CBD-infused drink, tincture or vape product to see whether it helps with your particular set of worries. It might just have you shouting from the rooftops, no matter how big a crowd is gathered in the streets below.

The BBB Labs Advantage

EXPERIENCE:With over 25 years of experience in GMP standard manufacturing, we only work with premium, compliant, and certified FULL SPECTRUM hemp product development

RELIABLE:We will only source ingredients for product development that meet GMP standards and are all natural

EFFECTIVE:Our products are developed with true bioavailability for rapid absorption of our 25mg cannabinoid proprietary formulation

INTEGRITY:We are committed to innovation while adhering to the highest standards and compliance, maintained through strict quality control

OUR MISSION

With over 25 years experience in research, development and sales in the health and wellness space, BBB Labs. brings the highest level of standards and compliance to the Hemp-derived Cannabinoid industry.

BBB uses innovative technology and premium GMP-standard ingredients in the creation of our products. BBB Labs. will only use established, non-THC proprietary cannabinoid-rich hemp strains to target the wide range of applications currently being re-discovered by the alternative medicine, traditional medical, and pharmaceutical industries. Our Full Spectrum Raw Hemp Extract bioavailable formulations are delivered in revolutionary capsules to provide optimum relief to those seeking the benefits of CBD.

This commitment also extends to our clients, for whom we proudly formulate, manufacture, package and fulfill.

Our proven patented technology and formulations position BBB Labs to lead the industry in the cannabinoid-based nutraceuticals market while providing consumers with:

CONSISTENCYWe micro-dose for effectiveness and to avoid side effects such as diarrhea and headaches

CONVENIENCENo measuring, no liquids to spill, GMP quality and assurance

OUR HEMP EXTRACTS

Supplier Relationships
Since BBB Labs is partnered with our suppliers and growers, we are able to provide our customers the highest quality product while keeping the pricing competitive. BBB Labs' suppliers provide the only artisanal supply in the world. The organic process mandates that no herbicides or pesticides be used. The end result assures that our hemp is 2%-4% CBD content as opposed to the competitors' industry standard of .06%-1.2%. We also maintain strong relationships with suppliers of non-hemp and GMP-standard ingredients, to assure the best quality and fair pricing.

Quality Control
Our Wholesale Full Spectrum Hemp Extracts are delivered to customers with a full Cannabinoid Profile, Certificates of Analysis (COA) from reputable third-party laboratories, and are rigorously tested for terpenes, pesticides and heavy metals to insure the highest quality extracts.

Results
BBB Labs and our partners are the only Full Spectrum Phyto-Cannabinoid supplier with full control over quality and processes from the farm to the customer. Unlike large-scale industrial farms that outsource their drying and extraction, BBB Labs suppliers oversee the entire process guaranteeing the highest quality hemp products that we can offer on a wholesale basis.

Drying & Extraction
Our product is not forced dry, preserving the flavonoids, essences, terpenes and oils in our extract. The lab starts with a supercritical CO2 process, slowly extracting the essential oils at low temperatures. Maintaining low temperatures from harvest to extraction allows for a special decarboxylation process to convert CBDA to CBD without burning or dissipating other active ingredients. All processes are performed according to strict GMP standards never using toxic solvents or other chemicals.

DISCLAIMER: THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT DISEASE.